The elevator system in the Sequoia Building at 2441 Haste Street where a fire broke out on the night of November 18th, ultimately destroying the 39-unit building, had not been inspected in over a year and its permit had expired, according to an article in the Berkeley Voice.

The city of Berkeley and the merchants of Telegraph Avenue are encouraging the community to shop on Berkeley’s most famous street this holiday season after a devastating fire left many people homeless on Friday and closed down one section of the commercial strip indefinitely.

A five-alarm fire that broke out at around 8:30 pm Friday at 2441 Haste Street burned through the night and has left the 39-unit Sequoia Apartments building uninhabitable. Residents and neighbors were evacuated and there were no reported casualties, according to Assistant Fire Chief Sabina Imrie.